Q: What can I do to conserve water during drought, like the one that has been plaguing the Southeast?
A: Water is one of our most precious resources, and we should be aware of water conservation in all areas of our home. Simple adjustments in personal habits as well as equipment and appliances can make a huge difference in water consumption.

First, examine your personal habits concerning water use. If you continue to let the water run when washing your hands, shaving, or brushing your teeth, you’re wasting water. Simply turning off the faucet during these times can prove helpful with conservation. You can also save water by placing a small pan in the kitchen sink to catch water as you rinse vegetables and cleanse your hands. If you are using an environmentally friendly washing product, you can then re-use that saved water on your plants. Also, be aware of how many different cups or glasses you use throughout the day. It’s easy to keep the same one all day long, thereby reducing the need to wash dishes as often.

In terms of your equipment and appliances, be sure to check for any drips in the bathroom and kitchen and make that quick repair. You may also want to consider purchasing water-saving devices. Installing low-flow showerheads and water faucet aerators is a simple and effective change. On average, a regular faucet uses four gallons of water per minute. Many water saving devices will cut this water use in half, and without dramatically affecting the pressure. A standard toilet is responsible for twenty to twenty-five percent of the water consumed in a residential house. But, there are many devices available to reduce the amount of water that is actually flushed each time. Some of these devices are not as efficient as others, so make sure you are not creating the need to flush twice. When choosing a new washing machine or dishwasher, make sure they have water saving features. Of course, make sure you have a full load when washing clothes.

You may also want to consider larger conservation-specific changes, like installing a gray water system or purchasing a composting toilet. Any water that has been used in the home, except water from toilets, is called gray water. Dish, shower, sink, and laundry water comprise fifty to eight percent of residential “waste” water that may be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation. There are several benefits of gray water recycling, including lower fresh water use, less strain on failing septic tank or treatment plant, groundwater recharge, and reclamation of otherwise wasted nutrients. Composting toilets are toilet systems that treat human waste by composting and dehydration to produce a useable end-product that is a valuable soil additive. They come in a variety of models and brand names as well as different shapes and designs to enhance the natural composting process. They use little or no water, are not connected to expensive sewage systems, cause no environmental damage and produce a valuable resource for gardening. However, building code may prevent the use of these systems in some locations, so be sure to do your research.

There are also a number of ways to save water when it comes to landscaping, and there are some very good reasons to do so. Over half of household water goes into our landscapes, which makes watering efficiently one of the best and easiest ways to conserve water. Proper watering will also keep your landscape plants healthy and beautiful throughout the year. One of the most important things to consider is what type of plants to use. Native plants are capable of withstanding the driest months and often even capable of surviving drought, like we are now having in our area. Rain barrels are easy to install and can capture the water from those short thunderstorms that come through in the afternoon. But, the best choices for irrigation of plants involve drip irrigation and soaker hoses. Mulch should cover the soaker hoses as well as the plants in order to avoid rapid evaporation. And, as a general rule of thumb, you should apply mulch at a depth of two to four inches. In addition to conservation, proper watering will also keep your landscape plants healthy and beautiful throughout the year.
Just one of these changes can have a huge impact on water conservation. Remember, a little bit of something is a better than a whole lot of nothing.

Mary Love is an environmental scientist, ECO-agent, and owner of Southern Energy Concepts; she has over 20 years of experience educating others about various environmental issues. Her new business, Southern Energy Concepts, performs “green audits” for existing homes and certifies new construction in the Energy Star or HealthyBuilt Homes programs. Mary can be reached by phone at 828-279-6723, email at mary@southernenergyconcepts.com, or through SEC’s website at www.southernenergyconcepts.com.

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